For Drew Camacho, the journey from addiction to academic success has been transformative. A former heroin user, the Hawaiʻi Island native spent more than a decade in a destructive cycle of substance abuse, felony charges and incarceration.

“Looking back, I think I’ve always kind of had issues with substance abuse. No outlets, no real support,” Camacho said. “And as a local boy, like our culture—we don’t talk about these kinds of things. We don’t tell anybody, ‘Hey, I need help.’”

HILO, Hawai‘i — Hawai‘i Community College is celebrating a successful first year of its Marine Option Program (MOP), where students gained extraordinary hands-on experience through real-world research, primarily with endangered sea turtle health and population studies on Hawai‘i Island’s shores.

HILO, HAWAI‘I – April 14, 2025 — Nearly 400 students, community members and families gathered at Hawai‘i Community College’s Manono campus this past Saturday, April 12, to celebrate the college’s Hawai‘i Community College Day — an annual event designed to spotlight academic programs, technical training, and workforce development opportunities on Hawai‘i Island.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai‘i (JCCIH) presented a check for $10,000 to Hawai‘i Community College on Thursday in support of the college’s Culinary Arts Program. The donation, raised through the annual “A Taste of Hilo” fundraiser, will provide scholarships and program funding for culinary students. This year, 20 students received scholarships through the initiative.

The inaugural class of Hawai‘i Community College’s new butchery course at the Kō Education Center in Honoka‘a celebrated their graduation this week, marking a historic milestone as the first program of its kind in the state. This groundbreaking course represents a significant step forward in strengthening Hawai‘i’s local food systems by preparing a new generation of skilled professionals in sustainable meat processing.

Summer is the perfect time to fast-track your education and save money!

Tuition will match fall and spring semesters at just $131 per credit for Hawaiʻi residents and $345 per credit for non-residents, allowing students to save money, graduate faster, and explore new interests while staying on track academically.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited the Hawaiʻi Community College Manono campus in Hilo, the Hawaiʻi CC Kō Education Center in Honokaʻa and Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui in Kona during a two-day trip to Hawaiʻi Island on February 24 and 25. The trip was part of Hensel’s tour of UH’s 10 campuses and five education centers in her first 90 days in office.

The Hawaiʻi CC visits included campus tours, open forums and meetings with students, faculty, staff and community members.

Hawai‘i Community College is making a lasting impact on sustainable agriculture in Hawai‘i through its pioneering use of Korean natural farming (KNF). Since 2016, the college’s agriculture program has trained students in KNF techniques, producing nearly 100 graduates, some of whom are now actively revitalizing Hawai‘i’s farmlands with environmentally friendly methods.

We welcomed University of Hawai'i President Wendy Hensel to Hawai'i Island this week with a very special Kīpaepae that brought both Hawai'i Community College and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo together at Hawai'i CC's Papa'a Hale.